Quality instruments on a price range.
Harbor Freight’s Icon hand device lineup is rising in reputation attributable to its high quality and worth. While they’re greatest fitted to at-home jobs, the worth and guarantee make them price attempting.
Many device manufacturers have loyal fanboys, all claiming their favourite model makes one of the best instruments. Ask anybody who spends 1000’s on Snap-on, DeWALT, MAC, or Klein. But when you’re searching for one thing a bit of extra reasonably priced, you’re possible questioning if ICON instruments from Harbor Freight are price shopping for.
Mechanics and professionals typically make enjoyable of particular manufacturers, however these debates aren’t all that vital for the typical home-owner. So the following time you stroll right into a ironmongery shop and see extra choices than you may think about and massive worth tags, don’t get overwhelmed.
Most individuals are aware of Snap-on, Craftsman, Stanley, and different family names, however Icon is a comparatively new choice. So, who makes Icon instruments, are they constructed to final, and do you have to contemplate shopping for one? Here’s what you might want to know.
Who Makes Icon Tools?
Icon are among the hottest and reasonably priced instruments over the previous couple of years, however discovering details about the instruments themselves is difficult. That’s as a result of they’re “made” and bought by Harbor Freight in over 1,300 shops all through 48 states.
Harbor Freight has been round since 1977 as a small family-owned enterprise, and over time grew into the large chain everyone knows as we speak. Many of the merchandise bought in shops are often called “rebrands,” that means it’s the identical device as others with a special identify.
You can discover instruments that look almost equivalent to an Icon Ratchet with one other identify on it, and that’s possible as a result of they’re each made by the identical firm. And for these questioning, no, Icon ratchets usually are not made by Snap-on, even when some look precisely the identical.
In phrases of who makes Icon instruments, that’s a troublesome query to reply. From what I’ve gathered on-line and by speaking to Harbor Freight employees, completely different instruments come from completely different distributors. It seems like Kabo makes quite a lot of Icon wrenches, whereas Infar Industrial makes many others, just like the ratchets.
Unfortunately, Harbor Freight doesn’t share the knowledge publicly, and teams like Infar don’t have a listing of manufacturers they construct instruments for.
That mentioned, it’s much like how Techtronic Industries (TTI Group) builds all the ability instruments bought by Ryobi, Milwaukee, and Ridgid. I reached out to Harbor Freight, and if we get a solution on who precisely makes its Icon instruments, I’ll replace this publish.
Where Are Icon Tools Made?
Icon Tools available and on cabinets at Harbor Freight are marketed and bought within the United States. Harbor Freight is predicated in Calabasas, California. However, determining precisely the place every Icon device is made or designed is sophisticated.
Many fans will inform you that Icons are low cost Chinese junk, however that’s merely not true. Depending on who makes every device, they’re possible made in Taiwan. Both Kabo Tools and Infar Industrial are based mostly in Taiwan, each personal a number of patents and make wonderful instruments.
Some instruments might come from different producers, nevertheless it’s exhausting to say who. Plus, the manufacturing course of and producer possible rely upon every particular product, mannequin, or 12 months. That all mentioned, there’s an excellent probability all of your Icon instruments are made in Taiwan or China. Then once more, so are many instruments that beforehand had been “Made in America.”
Huge Lineup of Hand Tools at Harbor Freight
Now that a number of extra particulars about Icon and Harbor Freight, right here’s extra details about its intensive lineup, which is a part of what makes the model so fashionable currently.
Harbor Freight sells a big selection of Icon instruments and storage tools. You can discover drivers, ratchets, wrenches, sockets, pliers, screwdrivers, placing instruments and hammers, specialty instruments, creepers, and even heavy-duty torque wrenches.
Head into any HF retailer, and also you’ll see the daring ICON identify on all types of instruments in numerous sizes and styles, and that even consists of storage lighting. Better but, it’s all fairly reasonably priced in comparison with a lot of the competitors. For now, the corporate primarily gives hand instruments, nevertheless it wouldn’t shock me to see energy instruments quickly.
Are Icon Tools Worth Buying?
Back to the unique query and what you’re all most likely questioning. Are Icon instruments price shopping for? Honestly, that is dependent upon your needs and wishes and in the event that they’re for skilled or private use.
I feel Icon instruments at Harbor Freight are completely price shopping for. The common DIY job round the home or at-home mechanic attempting to vary some spark plugs or exchange a brake pad may have no issues with Icon.
In reality, I personal a number of, from its wonderful 1/2 inch 250 ft. lb. digital torque wrench to ratchets. I’ve used them on little jobs round the home and constructing ebikes, to changing the complete entrance and rear suspension, coil-overs, and leaf springs on my Toyota Tacoma. They’re reasonably priced, sturdy, and dependable, and assist me get the job completed with no fuss.
I used to be initially skeptical as a result of I additionally owned Pittsburgh instruments from Harbor Freight that broke whereas I used to be below my truck, and that’s not good. I’ve since thrown these away.
That mentioned, I haven’t had a single drawback with something below the Icon identify. Obviously, having a strong device for a DIY job at house is vital, however that doesn’t imply you might want to spend 1000’s of {dollars}, both. Furthermore, I do know a number of skilled mechanics with instruments from almost each model out there, and lots of of them use Icon instruments day by day with out criticism.
For instance, this skilled mechanic with over 20 years of expertise on Reddit had nothing unfavorable to say about Icon. Additionally, an excellent good friend of mine is a heavy equipment mechanic that had over $20,000 price of instruments stolen from his work truck again in 2021. Over the final two years, he’s purchased an in depth choice of Icon instruments, makes use of and abuses them day by day on the job, and has no complaints.
Professionals might wish to go along with a big-name model and purchase dear instruments from a truck or catalog, however for common at-home customers, Icon is completely acceptable. But that’s my opinion based mostly on expertise. Even when you’re knowledgeable, so long as a device will get the job completed, that’s all that issues. Sure, you may get a number of feedback from co-workers, however while you spend 1000’s much less and might end a job in the identical period of time, who would be the one laughing?
At the tip of the day, the general efficiency and sheer quantity of instruments you get on your hard-earned cash make Icon instruments a superb worth. Plus, all Icon hand instruments at Harbor Freight include a restricted lifetime guarantee, making replacements fast and straightforward.
Here are a number of Icon instruments price shopping for.